Mitch Albom’s nonprofit Detroit Water Ice in Downtown Detroit

Downtown Detroit has no shortage of places to eat, but the Detroit Water Ice Factory is one of a kind. Founded by bestselling author and longtime Detroiter Mitch Albom as a nonprofit dessert destination, every product sold at this certified kosher shop on Woodward Avenue sends 100% of profits directly to SAY Detroit, a 501(c)(3) charity that serves the city’s most vulnerable residents through housing programs, a free medical clinic, an after-school learning center, and more. The store carries Kosher Michigan certification, which means every item, from the frozen water ice to the handcrafted gourmet popcorn, is produced and served under active rabbinical supervision. For kosher-observant consumers in metro Detroit and visitors to the city, it offers something genuinely uncommon: a certified kosher dessert experience in downtown Detroit where every purchase directly supports the community around it.

 

 

The signature product is D-ICE water ice, made fresh daily using closely guarded recipes donated by the owners of a nationally recognized water ice company in New Jersey. The result is a dessert that is smooth, creamy-tasting, fat-free, and cholesterol-free, with no preservatives and less sugar than most comparable frozen treats. Over 20 flavors are available, many with Detroit-themed names created by Albom himself. The full menu also includes soft serve ice cream, Motown Mash made from a secret family recipe, and Brown Bag Popcorn, the certified kosher gourmet popcorn brand that grew out of the store and is now available separately at The Somerset Collection and Plum Market locations across metro Detroit. Every item on the menu is produced under kosher supervision through Kosher Michigan.

What gives the Detroit Water Ice Factory its distinctive character is the model behind it. Like Newman’s Own before it, the entire enterprise exists to raise money for charity. The staff includes members of partner youth programs, giving young Detroiters work experience and a connection to community service. Mitch Albom has been vocal about his Jewish values driving the tikkun olam philosophy behind SAY Detroit, describing the charity’s work as caring about every Detroiter regardless of faith or background. The Kosher Michigan certification on their products adds a layer of meaning for Jewish consumers who want their food purchases to reflect both quality standards and communal values. This is certified kosher food in Michigan with a clear purpose behind every bite.

Located at 1014 Woodward Avenue near Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit, the store is open daily and sits steps from public transit along the QLine route. A second location at The Somerset Collection in Troy brings the brand to one of metro Detroit’s busiest shopping destinations. For kosher-observant Detroiters, visitors to the city, and anyone looking for a certified kosher frozen dessert in downtown Detroit that also does measurable good in the community, Detroit Water Ice Factory delivers at every level..

Sampling a cup of D-ICE is one of the more enjoyable ways to support certified kosher food in Michigan while contributing to a charity that has been rebuilding Detroit neighborhoods since 2006. For Shabbat treats, post-event desserts, or simply a stop on any visit to downtown Detroit, this is a name worth knowing and an experience worth repeating.